Most Territorial Bird? (1 Viewer)

[lassa8]

After seeing a pair of grackles dive-bombing a squirrel yesterday I started wondering which birds are the most territorial when it comes to protecting their nest. I can recall (before I started birding) being dive-bombed myself by protective birds a few times when I unwittingly got too close. Any thoughts?

 

[KC Foggin]

After seeing a pair of grackles dive-bombing a squirrel yesterday I started wondering which birds are the most territorial when it comes to protecting their nest. I can recall (before I started birding) being dive-bombed myself by protective birds a few times when I unwittingly got too close. Any thoughts?

I think pretty much every species is more aggressive during the nesting season. I have to say though, that around here, the No. Mockingbird would win this competition wings down.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Dunno, but the Buzzard attacking cyclists in Devon must be one of the more frightening if you were on the receiving end.

 

[Steve G]

I remember reading a piece written by Niall Benvie (a Scots wildlife photographer) about film footage obtained in Norway of 2 Capercaillie (a giant forrest grouse species) cocks who were so engrossed in battle that they failed to notice a Golden Eagle that swept into the clearing "nailed" & killed one of the fighting birds. The rival re-directed his assault on the Eagle forcing the harassed raptor to kill it too.
Now thats mindless territorial aggression though these birds were not defending nests!

 

[tomjenner]

I've spent many a day ringing (banding) chicks in seabird colonies. Many species are very aggressive towards intruders. A lot of my ringing has been of large gulls (Herring and Lesser Balack-backed) on the rooftops of Bristol. Often you have to delicately balance, like a tight-rope walker, along a thin piece of rooftop whilst they fly around behind you, where you can't see them, then dive-bomb you, pecking your head and poo-ing on you at the same time, whilst giving a deafening scream. On the ground it is bad enough, but when it threatens to send you plummetting 50m to the floor its quite a shock to the system. I have yet to visit a Skua (jaeger) colony, but I have heard that they are even worse.
Tom

 

[Motmot]

I guess handling Harpy nestlings has to be a bit stressy to the researcher too. I remember a famous Ornate Hawk-Eagle nest in Costa Rica with an extremely agressive female... she injured quite a few people that got close to the nest (and she thought close was 50 meters or even more!), VERY territorial bird.

 

[Steve G]

Did Eric Hosking -not lose an eye to a territorial Tawny Owl when filming near the nest?

 

[mamo]

yes SteveG he did, and he has a photo of said owl in his excellent book, "An eye for a bird"

mamo

 

[Rasmus Boegh]

Male Sparkling Violet-ear. They will attack any bird within a ~30 meter radius. Even birds that are several times larger (which most obviously are).

 

[samuel walker]

I was shocked last year at my little feeder to hear an angry hissing coming from the male cardinal.Most of my customers are house sparrow and finches.The card hisses,pecks and flails at them he won't antagonize the pigeons.Not the timid songbird I thought him to be.
Sam

 

[streatham]

After being attacked by a Northern Goshawk this week I'd have to say they have my vote.

 

[MikeMules]

Magpies! Gymnorhina tibicen, that is. The bane of cyclist, dog and schoolkid alike.


But only in spring.

 

[Chris D]

When you go to Australia you'll find out.

 

[Jodievdw]

Magpies! Gymnorhina tibicen, that is. The bane of cyclist, dog and schoolkid alike.


But only in spring.

Magpies definitely get my vote. It depends on they expect of us - in my experience magpies who live in town around schools, for example, and are probably used to having sticks thrown at them and other charming behaviour are much worse than ones out in the scrub with little human contact. Mind you, even the most nicely-mannered magpie will have a chunk out of your head if you get too close. Even if you ARE wearing an ice-cream container with eyes drawn on

 

[malskelton]

I saw a documentary once regarding Robins and defending their territory. They used a dummy Robin ( probably a stuffed one ) and filmed the assaults by other Robins. They absolutely destroyed it !!

I must also give an honorable mention to Terns. As a regular visitor to the Farne Islands I can personally vouch for the ferocity of their attacks - they have bloody sharp beaks. Since they nest wherever they land it is difficult to not stray too close to a nest, even when you stay on the footpaths. After my first visit I now always take a hat !!

Mal Skelton